The owners of Dear John’s and Melisse are teaming up once again to open a new restaurant called Dear Jane’s in Marina del Rey, located at 13950 Panay Way.
Husband and wife duo Patti and Hans Röckenwagner are working with legendary Los Angeles chef Josiah Citrin to open a new project in the former home of Chart House. This isn’t the first time these three have teamed up to open a restaurant. Citrin and the Röckenwagner’s first teamed up to re-open the iconic Dear John’s, which opened in 1962, with an updated classic American menu. The owners plan to open the new sister restaurant at the end of Panay Way in the Westside neighborhood before the end of the year.
Since re-opening Dear John’s in Culver City, located at 11208 Culver Blvd., the owners have faced uncertainty after losing their lease. Thankfully, the owners were able to recently ink a deal to stay at the current Dear John’s location for at least another year, which is due for an eventual demolition and redevelopment. As a result, the owners are pivoting to Dear Jane’s, which will focus on seafood, cocktails, and beach views. The upcoming restaurant is a perfect opportunity to shift in a new direction with elevated, casual seafood dishes and various continental American classics.
“This is a process that started for us when we didn’t know the fate of Dear John’s,” Patti Röckenwagner tells Eater LA. “We were looking at other opportunities when it seemed like our lease was going to be over, and we happened to see this space. [The new direction] is in line with both the location and the notion of honoring the history of Los Angeles landmarks.”
